Automatic phonograph



A. E. COMSTOCK 2,628,844

Feb. 17, 1953 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Jan. 21, 1947.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l SINGLE DOUBLE I N VEN TOR.

5 JQZWZI Feb. 17, '1953 A. E. COMSTOCK AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAFH Filed Jan. 21, 194? 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,628,844 7 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Alfred E. Cornstock, Chicago, Ill. Application January 21, 1947, Serial No. 723,369

23 Claims.

This. invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic phonographs of the type adapted to play both sides of one or a plurality of records.

More particularly, the invention relates to automatic phonographs of the stated type whereinprovision is made for rotatably supporting a stack of records above the usual turntable of a phonograph in position for playing the underside of the lowermost record of the stack, after which the record is ejected from the stack and deposited by gravity upon the turntable in position for playing'the'upper side of therecord. ()ne object of the present invention is to provide novel mechanism for supporting and at the same time rotationally driving a stack of one or morerecords' above theusual turntable so that it is possible to, play the underside of the lowermost record of the stack.

, 'Another object of the invention is to providea novel support and drive mechanism for an elevated stack of records as described which is operable in conjunction with other mechanisms of a phonograph to effect the. playing of first one side and then the other side of a succession of records deposited from said stack onto the usual turntable or which may be rendered inoperative to effect the playing of one side only of such a succession of records. i

A furtherobject of the present invention is to provide anovel mechanism of the character set forth which; is operable to support and rotationally drive an elevated stack of records only when the undersideof the lowermost record of the stack is being played, the said records at all other times resting in a non-rotating condition upon asuitable support provided therefor.

;A further object of the invention is to provide novel drive and support means for an ele-. vated stack of records which is operable to stop rotation of the supported records just prior to returning the same to rest position upon said support.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel record supporting and driving means of the type described which may be employed in conjunction with conventional record change mechanisms such as, for example, the edge push ofi type'hole pull-01f type with rotating eccentric stem segment, separating finger type that works upon the edge of the records, etc.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel support and drive means having. the features and characteristics set forth which is of relatively simplified'and inexpensive construc tion and which is highly efficient and effectivein operation and use. i ff These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof are hereinafter fully set forth and described'with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: H Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an automaticphonograph embodying the present invention; j j] Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof:

'Fig. '3 is a view in plan of the phonograph shown in Fig. 1 with the top panel and turntable removed to illustrate certain details of the mech: anism; and 1 Fig. 4, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44, Fig. 3. j Referring now to the drawings and more par ticularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, reference numeral I designates the horizontal supportingpanel or platform of the phonograph which has mounted thereabove the usual record turntable 2, tone arm 3 and suitable record discharge means The turntable 2 may be rotationally driven in clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 1 of the drawings, for example, by means of a motor! driving a Wheel 6 having a friction surface positioned in engagement with the inner surface of the depending peripheral skirt of the turntable as shown. Vertical movement and positioningof the tone arm 3 for selective engagement with records supported above and below said arm, as

well as horizontal swinging movement or traverse of said arm to and from positions between the records, may be effected and controlled, forex; ample, in the manner and by the mechanisms shown and described in detail in my co-pending application Serial No. 702,331, filed October 19,

1946. r Extending vertically upward through the (usual central opening in the turntable 2 is a spindle support structure 8 which, in the illustrated embodim-ent of the invention, preferably is stationary and does not rotatewith the turntablez. With reference particularly to Fig.2 of the draw: ings, it is to be noted that the spindle 8 hasits lower portion 9 arranged coaxially of the turn.- table 2 and has an upper portion 10 thereof disposed slightly ofiset laterally from the axis so that the upper end of the lower spindle portion 9 provides a supporting, surface or shoulder II which is adapted to support a stack of records except during playing of the underside of thelo'wermost record of the stack as; hereinafter doe scribed. r

In addition to being laterally offset the upper portion ID of the spindle 8 is spaced vertically from or above the support surface or shoulder II a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of a record disc so that the lowermost record disc of the stack supported on said shoulder II may be actuated by the change means t to position the center opening of such record in alignment with the spindle lower portion 9 so that the record will travel down the spindle under the influence of gravity and be deposited in playing position upon the turntable 2. Any suitable discharge means 4 may be employed for actuating the lowermost record resting on the support or shoulder I I to bring its central opening into alignment with the spindle portion 9 for deposit onto the turntable 2 as described and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the record discharge mechanism 4 employed is of the conventional edge push-off type which may be actuated in controlled relation with respect to the other mechanisms of the phonograph in the usual manner.

As previously stated, the present invention contemplates the provision of novel mechanism for supporting and rotationally driving an elevated stack of records A so that the underside of the lowermost record thereof will be played when engaged by the stylus of the tone arm 3 and, in the embodiment of the invention illus-' trated in the drawings, this is accomplished by providing at intervals about the turntable 2 a plurality of drive assemblies generally designated I2 which are operable in controlled relation to the movements of the tone arm 3 and other mechanisms of the phonograph, as hereinafter described. These drive assemblies I2 each comprise an upright support or standard I3 which is secured to the phonograph top panel I and journalled in each such support or standard I3 by means of a sleeve or bushing I4 is a shaft I5. To the upper end of the sleeve or bushing I4 there is secured the hub portion I6 of a spider I! having aligned spaced apart journal portions I8, I8 which rotationally support a horizontal shaft I9.

Secured on the horizontal shaft I9 intermediate the spider journal portions is a bevel gear 20 which is meshed with another bevel g'ear 2| that is secured upon the upper end of the aforesaid shaft I5. The shaft I extends entirely through the support I3 and sleeve I5 and has its lower end journalled in the hub portion 22 of a housing 23 which is secured at the underside of the phonograph panel or top platform I. Secured to the hub portion I6 of the spider I1 and enclosing the journals I8 thereof as well as the aforesaid bevel gears 20 and 2I and the major portion of the shaft I9, is a housing 24 which may be streamlined in the modern decor, for example, as illustrated.

One end of the horizontal shaft I9 projects outwardly through an opening 25 in one end of the housing 24 and has secured adjacent its outer end a frictional drive roller 26. These rollers 26 of the several drive assemblies are arranged to engage the underside of the lowermost record of the stack of record discs A resting upon the support or shoulder portion II of the spindle 8 and to raise or lift the stack from the shoulder II and support the same above and free of said shoulder II while simultaneously rotationally driving the said stack to permit the underside of the lowermostrecord thereof to be played when engaged by the stylus of the tone arm 3.

The shaft I5 of each drive assembly is rotationally driven to in turn drive the horizontal shaft I9 through the bevel gears 20 and 2! by means of pulley 21 which is journalled upon the sleeve or bushing l4. Driving connection from the pulley 21 on the sleeve or bushing I4 to the shaft I5 is provided by a friction surface 28 on a flexible annular disc 29 that is secured to the shaft I5 at the underside of the aforesaid drive pulley 21. The pulley 21 of each drive assembly is driven continuously by means of a rubber belt 30 from a main pulley 3I which in turn is driven by a gear 32 that is meshed with a larger gear 33 secured at the underside of the phonograph turntable 2 and hence rotates therewith.

The drive assemblies, including drive rollers 26, housing 24 and sleeve I4, are constructed and arranged for limited pivotal movement between the solid line positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings in which the drive rollers 26 are in supporting and driving engagement with the underside of the lowermost record of the elevated stack, and the dotted line positions thereof shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings wherein the drive rollers 26 are removed from engagement beneath the elevated stack of records and are positioned outward and clear of the peripheral edges of the elevated stack of records.

Limited pivotal movement of the drive assemblies between the two positions just described is effected by means of a single cable 34 which embraces a shive 35 suitably keyed to the sleeve I4 and having a hub portion 36 journalled by means of ball bearings 31 in a recess provided in the lower end of the supports or standard I3. The lower face of the shives 35 is recessed and undercut as indicated to receive a clip 35a that retains the pulleys 21 in the desired axial position. Preferably, a plurality of turns of the cable 34 embraces the shive 35 of each of the several drive assemblies. The base portions of the standards I3 each have formed therein an inclined helical or spiral slot 38 which receives a laterally extending pin 39 that is fixedly carried by the sleeve or bushing I4 and extends through an elongated opening 36 in the hub of the shive.

The construction and arrangement of the pins 39 and inclined helical slots 39 are such that, as the drive assemblies are actuated in the counterclockwise direction with respect to Fig. 3 by the shives 35 and cable 34 to thereby move the friction drive rollers 26 from the dotted line positions to the solid line positions shown, the said pin and slot arrangements operate to raise the bushings I4, housings 24 and drive rollers 26 thereby causing the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record of the elevated stack A and lift the same clear from its rest position upon the spindle surface or shoulder II. At the same time this upward movement causes the friction surface 28 on disc 29 to be moved into engagement with the underside of the pulley 21 to establish the driving connection to the rollers 26 which operate to rotationally rotate the stack of records so as to play the underside of the lowermost record of the stack when engaged by the stylus of the tone arm 3.

Upon completion of playing of the underside V of the lowermost record of the upper stack A,-

actuation of the shives 35 in the clockwise di ewes- 44 erates; to move thedrive assemblies from: the

solid line positions to the dotted line positionsshown, and during this movement the pin and inclined slot arrangements operate in the reverse-mannerto lower the drive assemblies so that the drive rollers 26 are gradually dropped downwardly to deposit the upper stack of records again upon the supporting surface or shoulder l H of thespindle 8 for subsequent ejection and transfer of the lowermost record onto the turntable 2 by means of the transfer mechanism 4.

At the same time driving connection from pulley 2! to the disc 29 and shaft I5 is broken by the downward movement of thelatte'r so that the drive to the rollers 26 is interrupted and,

in addition to utilizing this downward movement of shaft [5 to break the drive to the rollers 26,

advantage also may be taken of such downward movement to provide a positive braking action to stoprotation of the drive rollers 26. This may be accomplished, for example, by providing a friction member 28a on the underside of the.

disc 29which is brought into braking contact with the underlying surface 46 of the hub portion 22 of the housing 23. This arrangement serves to stop rotation of the upper stack of record discs before they arereturned to their rest position on the spindle surface or shoulder H and thus prevents undue wear of the records.

Actuation of cable 34 to effect rotation of the shives 35 and consequent shifting of the positions of the drive assemblies is accomplished, for example, by means of a lever 42 which is mounted for horizontal pivotal movement about a pivot point 43' at one end thereof and which has-its other or-free end fixedly secured or con-.

45 which normally i's-held in contact with the periphery of a cam 46 by means of a spring or' the like 47. In the present instance the cam 46 is rotationally driven by=a bevel -gear 48 from another bevel gear 49 secured upon a shaft-.50. which,- for purposes of illustrating and describ-i ing the operation of the present-invention, may be considered to be the shaft identified by reference numeral 25 in my'co-pending application Serial No. 702,331 aforesaid. Thus the shaft 50 is adapted to rotate through a-single com-j plete revolution and then come to rest each time that it is actuated, and two such complete revolutions of the shaft 50 are required for each complete record playing and changingcycle of the phonograph. Consequently the drive ratio from-the shaft 50 through the bevel gears 48 and 49 to the cam 46 is such that the latter rotates through one-half a revolution only, or- 180, for each complete single revolution of the shaft-50. I

Bearing the foregoing in mind,- in operation of the mechanism" and with the cam 46 in the relative or zero position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the shaft 50' and consequently said cam 46 are at rest and the stylus of the tone arm ,3 i s playing the underside of the lowermost record of the upper stack 'Athereofwhich is supported and'rotationally driven by the rollers 26 of the drive assemblies which-.parepin:the: solid line .positions shown..,,Upon completing. play of the underside of the lowermost record of the upper stack the shaft 50 is rotated through 1 a single complete revolution thereby rotating;

the cam 46 through one-half a revolution, or 180, at which point it again comes to rest. ,Dur ing this half revolution of the-cam 46 the tone arm 3 is disengaged from the underside of the lowermost record of the upper stack and caused to move laterally outwardly from, between the upper stack of records and the turntable 2. At the same time the cam 46 actuates the roller; 45 and lever 42 into the dotted line position, thereof shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings thereby actuating the driveassemblies l2 from the solid line positions to the dotted line positions thereof. in which they are clear of the upper stack of records that has been returned to its rest position upon the spindle shoulder H. U

When the drive assemblies [2 have been moved; to the dotted line ,positionsas described, the record change mechanism 4 engages the lowermost record of the stack A to alignthe central, opening therein with the lower portion 9 of the spindle so that that record is deposited by gravity. onto the turntable 2. The tone arm 3. then is moved to engage its stylus with the upper side of'the record just depositedon the turntable 2.

While the upper side of the recorddeposited-on; the turntable 2 is playing the cam 46 and shaft, to remain stationary with the cam 46 in the position to which. actuated as-previously. de scribed. i g

At the completion of play of the upper side of the record onthe turntable 2 the shaft 50: again is actuated through a single completerevolution to in turn rotate the cam 46 through another half revolution thereof from 180 to 3602; or, in other words, return it to the zero position at which point the cam again comes to rest. As the cam 46 traverses its second half revolution from the 180 position to the 360 or 0 positionthe tone arm '3 is moved laterally outboard and-Iv clear of the turntable and upper stack of records, in' the usual manner, and the contour .of the; cam i6 is such to cause the spring 41 to return. the lever 42 to the solid line position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawingswith the result that,

.the drive assemblies are actuated inwardly from.

the dotted line position to the solid linepositionsthereof. a I

As the drive assemblies l2 move inwardly to, their solid line positions shown, the pin and slot connections 39 and 38 operate to elevate ,the; drive rollers 26' to engage and lift the upper stack of records A. from their rest position upon; the spindle shoulder portion ll so that the up-,; per stack of records is supported free of the. spindle by thedrive rollers which operate simultaneously to rotationally drive the upper stack of records in the appropriate direction. As the drive rollers 26 move into supporting and driving-engagement with the upper stack of rec-. ords the tone arm 3 is moved inwardly into; playing engagement with the underside of the, lowermost record. of said upper stack and upon completion of play of the underside of this lower-. most record the described operating cycle of the mechanism is repeated. v r

The above operations occur successively and in repeat cycles when the deviceis set for fully. automatic operation. However, when automatic operation in this manner is not desired, means; are provided to'render the cam 46 inefiectiveandi accuse to retain the drive assemblies in the outer or dotted line positions shown in Fig. 3. Thus, a pivoted latch is provided and arranged to engage an extension or arm 52. of the lever 42. An appropriately marked manual control butten 53 is provided and connected therewith is a control finger 54 which carries a pin 55 that is'arranged to engage witha detent or recess 56 in the latch.

The manually operative button 53 is operable either to maintain the latch 51 in a position disengaged from the lever extension 52 as shown insolid lines or in restraining engagement therewith as illustrated in dotted lines. In this latter position, the lever 42 is held in the dotted line position thereof (Fig. 3) so that the cam 46 is rendered inefiective with the drive assemblies 12 remaining in the dotted line positions illustrated, and the phonograph thereupon will operate to play only the upper sides of successive records deposited upon the turntable 2.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the record change means 4 is of a conventional type comprising the usual hold-down finger 4a which is adapted to engage downwardly upon the top of the uppermost record of theupper stack A to restrain the same during ejection or discharge of the lowermost record thereof. However, continuous engagement of the hold-down finger 4a upon the record stack A would interfere with proper operation of the drive assemblies l2 to elevate and rotationally drive the upper record stack A in the manner described and, accordingly, means are provided for disengaging the hold-down fingerla from therecord stack A at least during the time that the drive wheels 26 are in engagement with the underside of the lowermost record of the stack A.

Thus, as shown in the drawings, there is reciprocably mounted beneath the hold-down finger 4a a push rod or the like 51 which has its upper end engaging beneath the said finger 4a and its lower end disposed in contact with the periphery of a disc cam 58 fixed on a shaft 59 that is rotationally driven in synchronism with the main drive control cam 46 by a gear 60 from the gear 48; the configuration and rotation of the said cam 58 being such that the push rod 51 is elevated to disengage the finger 4a from the record stack A during engagement of the lowermost record thereof by the drivewheels 26.

' From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel mechanism for. supporting and rotationally driving an elevated stack of records in a manner that makes it possible to play the underside of the lower-most record of the elevated stack. The invention also provides a mechanism as described which is operable in conjunction with other phonograph mechanisms :to effeet the playing of first one side and then the other side of a succession of records deposited from said stack onto the turntable, or which may be rendered inoperative to thereby effect the playing of one side only of such a succession of records.

Furthermore, the mechanism of the present invention has the advantage of being operable to support and drive the elevated stack of records only during the time that the underside of the lowermost record of the stack is being played, the records at all other times resting in a. non-rotating condition upon a suitable support provided therefor. In addition, the novel drive means of the invention isoperable to stop rotation of the upper stack of records prior to returning them to rest position upon the support, and has the advantage of being capable of use with conventional record change mechanisms of-the several usual types.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure, and changes and modifications in and to the disclosed mechanism may be made within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a. phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be r0- tationally driven in one direction, support means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, drive means including a plurality of rollers arranged circumferentially of the turntable and shiftable between inoperative positions laterally clear of the records on said support and operative positions underlying the upper stack of records, means for moving said rollers vertically upward to'engag-e and lift the stack of records from said support, means to drive said rollers to rotate said upper stack of records, and means to shift said drive rollers between said inoperative and operative positions in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playin of records supported respectively above and on said turntable.

2. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven inone direction, support means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of rollers arranged circumferentially of the turntable and shiftable between inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and operative positions underlying the upper stack of records, means for moving said rollers vertically upward to engage and lift the stack of records from said support, means to drive said rollers when in engagement with the stack to thereby rotate said upper stack of records, means actuable to shift said drive rollers between said inoperative and operative positions, and mechanism to actuate said last-mentioned means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above andon'said turntable.

3. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rota tionally driven in one direction, support means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of rollers arranged circumferentially of the turntable and shiftable between inoperative positions laterally clear of the records on said support and operative position .underlying the upper stack of records, means for moving said rollers vertically upward to engage and lift said upper stack, means to drive said rollers when in said operative positions to rotate said upper stack of records, means actuable to shift said drive rollers between said inoperative and operative positions, mechanism to actuate said last-mentioned means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above and on said turntable, and means operable carried 'by said ingthe rotary elements vertically upward to enwhen said rollers are in said inoperative position to efiect transfer of the lowermost record of the upper stack into playing position on the turntable.

4. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, support means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of rollers arranged circumferentially of the turntable and shiftable between inoperative positions laterally clear of the records on said support and operative positions underlying the upper stack of records, means for moving said rollers vertically upwardto engage and lift said upper stack, a source of rotary power for driving said rollers,

clutch means associated with said drive means operable in the operative position of said rollers to establish driving connection between the same -and said power source'to rotate said upper stack of records, and means to shift said drive rollers between said inoperative and operative positions in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above andon said turntable.

In a phonograph of thetype for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, arecord turntable'adapted to be rotatable and shiftable between inoperative positions laterally clear of the records on said support and operative positions underlying the upper stack of records, means for moving said rollers upwardly to engage and liftsaid upper stack, a

source of rotary power for driving said rollers,

clutch means associated with said drive means operable in the operative position of said rollers to establish drivingconnection between the same and said power source to'rotate said upper stack of records, means to shift said drive rollers between said inoperative and'operative positions in predetermined timed relation synchronized with "the playing of record supported respectively above and on said turntable, and means operable when said rollers are in said inoperative position to effect transfer of the lowermost record of the upper stackinto playing position on the turntable.

6. In aphonog' raph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a're'cord turntable adapted to' be rotathe turntable and mounted for pivotal movement tionally driven in one direction, means to sup-, port an upper stack of one or more records in between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements drive assemblies, means for movgage the underside 'of' the lowermost record on t driving said rotary elements underside of the lowermost record thereof.

playing records supported in a vertically spaced arecord turntable adapted to be rotamlation means to suptionally driven in one direction,

'7.f Ina phonograph of the typefor successively port an upper stack ofone or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a' plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and movable between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, and means to elevat said rotary elements into lifting engagement withthe records during traverse of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions.

8. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and movable between aninoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rollers carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record 'on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means to elevatesaid rollers into lifting engagement with the records duringtraverse of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions, and means to drive said rollers to rotationally drive said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

9. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged 'circumferentially of the turntable and movable between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rollers carried by said drive assemblies, means actuable to move said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, means controlled by said drive assembly moving means for raising the rollers into engagement with the lowermost record in said upperstack to lift said stack from the supporting means, and mechanism to actuate said drive assembly moving means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records.

10 In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and movable between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rollers carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means actuable to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, and means controlled by said drive assembly shifting means to elevate said rollers into liftmg engagement with the records during traverse of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions.

11. In a phonograph of the type for successively Ip'laying records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and movable between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rollers carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means actuable to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, means controlled by said drive shifting means for elevating said rollers into lifting engagement with the records during traverse of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions, and means to drive said rollers to rotationally drive said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

offset to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means actuable to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, means to elevate said rotary elements into lifting engagement with the records during movement of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions and to lower said records onto the support during movement of said assemblies from operative to inoperative positions, and means to drive said rotary elements when in their operative positions to rotationally drive said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

13. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable comprising a spindle mounted coaxially of the turntable and having a shoulder portion to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, and means controlled by said drive shifting means for 12 elevating said rotary elements into lifting engagement with the records during movement of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions and to lower said records onto the support during movement of said assemblies from operative to inoperative positions.

14. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable comprising a spindle mounted coaxially of the turntable and having a shoulder portion to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies, means for vertically raising said rotary elements to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the upper stack of records clear of said support, and means controlled by said vertical raising means to drive said rotary elements when in said operative positions to rotate said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

15. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable comprising a spindle mounted coaxially of the turntable and having a shoulder portion to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermostrecord on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, and means operable to drive said rotary elements when in said operative positions to rotationally drive said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

16. In a -phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable comprising a spindle mounted coaxially of the turntable and having a shoulder portion to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means actuable to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, mechanism to actuate said last-mentioned means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above and on said turntable, and means controlled by said drive shifting wam the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions and to lower said records onto the support during movement of said assemblies from operative to inoperative positions.

17. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable comprising a spindle mounted coaxially of the turntable and having a shoulder portion to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means actuable to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, mechanism to actuate said last-mentioned means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above "and on said turntable, and "means controlled by said drive shifting mean's'to drive said rotary elements to rotational-' ly drive said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

18. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable comprising a spindle mounted coaxially of the turntable and having a shoulder portion to receive the records thereon, a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumferentially of the turntable and mounted for movement between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an operative position underlying said records, rotary elements carried by said drive assemblies arranged in the operative position of the latter to engage the underside of the lowermost record on the support and lift the records clear of said support, means actuable to shift said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, mechanism to actuate said last-mentioned means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above and on said turntable, mean controlled by said drive shaft means for elevating said rotary elements into lifting engagement with the records during movement of the drive assemblies from inoperative to operative positions and to lower said records onto the support during movement of said assemblies from operative to inoperative positions, and means controlled by said elevating means to drive said rotary elements to rotate said upper stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof.

19. In drive means for phonographs of the type for successively playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation having a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction and means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, a drive roller movable between an inoperative position laterally clear of the upper stack ofrecords and an operative position underlying said records, means to move said drive roller between said inoperative and operative po- 'sitions, means controlled by said roller moving means to elevate said drive roller into supporting engagement with the stack of records durin movement of said roller from inoperative to operative positions and to lower the same during movement of said roller from operative to inoperative positions, means to drive said roller to thereby rotationally drive said stack of records to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof, and clutch means operable to establish driving connection between said last-mentioned means and the roller upon elevation of the latter when moved into operative position and to break 'the driving connection therebetween upon lowthe upper stack :of records and an operative position underlying said records, means to move said drive roller between saidinoperative and operative positions, means controlled by said roller moving means to elevate said drive roller into supporting engagement with the stackof records during movement of said roller from inoperative to operative positions and to lower the same during movement of said roller from operative to inoperative positions, means to drive said roller to thereby rotationally drive said stack of recl ords to play the underside of the lowermost record thereof, clutch means operable to establish driving connection between said last-mentioned means and the roller upon elevation of the latter when moved into operative position and to break the driving connection therebetween upon lowering of the roller when moved from said operative position, and braking means associated with said clutch means operable to stop rotation of the roller following breaking of said driving connection thereto.

21. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in vertically spaced apart relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, support means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable, drive means including aplurality of rollers arranged circumferentially of the turntable and shiftable between inoperative positions laterally clear of the records on said support and operative positions underlying and supporting the up per stack of records free of said support, means to drive said rollers to thereby rotationally drive said upper stack of records, means to shift said drive rollers between said inoperative and operative positions in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records supported respectively above and on said turntable, record change means operable to discharge the lowermost record from the upper stack while said drive means are in said inoperative positions, hold-down means associated with said record change means and normally engaging downwardly on said upper stack of records, and mechanism operable in timed relation with said drive means to disengage said hold-down means from the records while the drive means are in said operative positions.

22. In a phonograph of the type for successively playing records supported in vertically spaced apart relation, a record turntable adapted to be rotationally driven in one direction, support means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the turntable,

a plurality of drive assemblies arranged circumwith said record change means and normally engaging downwardly on said upper stack of records, and mechanism operable in timed relation with said drive means to disengage said holddown means from the records while the drive means are in said operative positions.

23. In a phonograph of the type for successive- 1y playing records supported in a vertically spaced relation, means to support and drive a lower stack, of records, means to support an upper stack of one or more records in spaced relation above the lower-stack, a plurality of drive assem- 'blies arranged circumferentially of the stacks and movable between an inoperative position laterally clear of the records on said support and an inoperative position underlying said records,

rollers carried by said drive assemblies, means actuable to move said drive assemblies between said inoperative and operative positions, means .controlled by said assembly moving means for moving the rollers vertically upward to engage the underside of the lowermost record on said supporting means and lift said upper stack, and mechanism to actuate said assembly moving means in predetermined timed relation synchronized with the playing of records.

ALFRED E. COMSTOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,547,768 Little July 28, 1925 1,838,101 Mallina Dec. 29, 1931 2,043,789 Ansley June 9, 1936 2,318,654 Wissner May 11, 1943 2,515,283 Wissner July 18, 1950 2,550,794 Fisher May 1, 1951 2,555,895 Lynch June 5, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 377,173 Great Britain Jan. 16, 1931 541,156 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1941 822,026 France Dec. 18, 1937 111,950 Sweden July 27, 1944 239,044 Switzerland Apr.- 1, 1946 

